Fire at top of Sedgley's Beacon Hill 'started deliberately'

A total of 13 crew members rushed to the beauty spot on Monday afternoon amid soaring temperatures after receiving reports of a grass fire.

Crews from Tipton and Fallings Park were joined by a 4x4 response vehicle from Dudley as they tackled the blaze at around 4.30pm.

The blaze involved grass and shrubland and spanned approximately 300 sq m. It is believed to have been started deliberately.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "At just after 4.30pm on July 18 we were alerted to an incident at Sedgley Beacon, following reports of a grass fire.

"Two fire engines from Tipton and Fallings Park attended the scene accompanied by a four-by-four brigade response vehicle from Dudley. Our 13 crew members extinguished the grass and shrubland fire spanning approximately 300 metres squared, which is believed to have been started deliberately."

Meanwhile, residents took to social media to voice their concern as they blamed the irresponsible use of disposable barbecues at the popular site.

The fire has left a blackened area at the top of the hill.

Ettingshall Park resident Michael Richards said: "Tonight I went for a walk up Sedgley Beacon where I spend a lot of time watching sunsets, but tonight I found a blackened, damaged top."

And one person asked on social media: "Do these morons ever think of the wildlife they are destroying, from insects upwards? But to answer my own question, probably not."